Brookdale Community College vs American Institute-Somerset: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Brookdale Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,379 against a $22,462 total, vs $28,710 at American Institute-Somerset. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Brookdale Community College | American Institute-Somerset |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,231 | $20,464 |
| Total net cost | $22,462 | $81,856 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,379 | $28,710 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $11,979 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$102,082 | -$474,856 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Brookdale Community College or American Institute-Somerset?
Brookdale Community College, at $11,231 a year after aid versus $20,464 — a gap of $9,233 a year, or $59,394 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Brookdale Community College or American Institute-Somerset graduates earn more?
Brookdale Community College graduates report a median $44,379 ten years after entry, $15,669 more than the $28,710 at American Institute-Somerset. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Brookdale Community College or American Institute-Somerset?
American Institute-Somerset: its completers carry a median $11,979 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Brookdale Community College, a difference of $21. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
56% of students finish at American Institute-Somerset, against 30% at Brookdale Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.